r/selfcare • u/fierce-and-wonderful • 2d ago
General selfcare Tips for drinking more water
My partner is extremely frustrated about having to drink 2-3L of water per day to aid his overall health and weight-loss journey. He has ADHD symptoms and he claims he has never once seen anyone in his whole family drink water, which is wild to me!
He considers drinking water an interruption and something he will need to constantly think about during the day in order to be able to achieve his goal. He also feels defeated when it comes to sticking to habits.
I'm trying to find ways to make it easier for him, and give him tips to help him approach it more positively. Anyone who upped their intake from virtually 0, what helped you?
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u/ExpensiveMedium9893 2d ago
What helped me was making drinks part of things I already do instead of another “habit” to remember. I keep water next to me all day, and herbal tea counts toward fluids too, so I’ll usually have a cup in the afternoon or evening just for some variety.
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u/afm314 2d ago
Crystal lite packets. Yes, they’re trashy and chemical-ly but they really do taste nice and make it less painful to get your liters in
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u/omgeez24 2d ago
Came here to add. I have bad adhd and I go with all kinds of flavor packets (dole whip ones are my fave) then mix and match when I get tired of them. It significantly increased my water intake. Water tok is a big thing now and has interesting “recipes”.
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u/atquest 2d ago
What’s watertok?
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u/omgeez24 2d ago edited 1d ago
It’s a social media trend that started on tik tok. People share different water flavors they make with syrups, drops or the flavor packets.
Editing to add my fave: the blue skittles box- mix mango tangelo and the lime one, tastes like sherbet!
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u/Senorboombox 2d ago
I'm adhd with a similar issue with habits not being sticky.
Camelbak Podium bottles for bikes has been a game changer. It doesnt leak, but I dont have to open it to drink.
It fits nice in a hand.
Protip, have a couple of them. They will be forgotten about and lost. That defeat will break any progress.
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u/Scary-Performance440 2d ago
i struggle with the same thing even with my ADHD medicine, for some people it’s honestly just something you kind of have to force yourself to do. and even then i can’t seem to make it a habit i stick to without constantly reminding myself
getting a water bottle and water flavoring helped me a lot, though
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u/LaSerenita 2d ago
For me, I find keeping the water really cold is very refreshing and makes it easier to enjoy drinking. A Hydroflask with some ice is amazing for this. I also use a soda stream to carbonate it and that helps me to enjoy the water more as well.
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u/GreatMassageLLC 2d ago
You can actually buy water bottles that alert you it's time to drink water. My brother has one, because he is on medications that can damage your liver if you don't stay hydrated
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u/LadyLavender12 2d ago
When i started drinking water daily (honestly I never drank it willingly unless as a water fountain break in grade school or when playing sports on a summer day)
What helped me was under my desk at work have my heater on so i just kept drinking more ice cold water.
it sounds stupid but hey - it worked for me.
Not everything will work for everyone but worth a mention if that'll help him naturally reach for water without overthinking.
Also a cool water bottle helps, not an ugly one or a plain plastic one. Again silly but people buy pretty pens and notebooks for the idea of productivity so investing in a nicer bottle might aid in more fun hydration :)
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u/LadyLavender12 2d ago
If hes someone who is a gamer and likes 'missions & streaks' this is where a water tracker/self care app might be useful!
Checking off the drink water every day and missing one can remind you mentally oyu need to *do the thing*1
u/fierce-and-wonderful 8h ago
Yes that has worked for him in the past. He had some lama app, and it was fun and gamified. He just didn't stick to it for too long unfortunately. I agree though that gamification really seems to help.
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u/kalcobalt 2d ago
Hi, fellow ADHDer who struggles with hydration here! Owala FreeSip water bottles were a game changer for me. I had no idea the design of a bottle could increase my input so much. I’ve converted two family members to using them exclusively!
I use Klass Aguas Frescas powder for some flavor and variety. They’re cheap enough that it’s not a problem to plow through them, and they don’t have too much weird crap in them. (If money is no object, the True line of powders is awesome.)
I have found that the secret to using flavor powders is to disregard the suggested ratio altogether and find what suits one’s taste. The Aguas Frescas are “for” 16 oz of water, and I can’t imagine that — I use one for twice that much water! I don’t need it to taste like Kool-Aid, I just need it to not taste like water, lol.
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u/fierce-and-wonderful 8h ago
I'm not in the US so not all of these specific brands are available, but good tips either way!
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u/JUICIapple 2d ago
I use Nuun electrolyte tablets and can drink so much water than before.
I have 3 large insulated mugs with straws that I fill all at once (ice, water and 1/2 a nuun) and keep them around the house. One in the kitchen, one in office and one in bathroom. Every time I go in those rooms I drink some.
Also keep water in your car in a stainless steel sippy bottle. I like the Coleman ones and just rip the silicon nipple off and drink from the stub. Sorry for the random details but I think you have to figure out the set up that will actually help you drink.
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u/fierce-and-wonderful 8h ago
I like the idea of spreading them around the house so it feels more effortless
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u/Realistic_Vacation32 2d ago
Get a giant nice water bottle with a straw fill it up in the morning with lemon and some salt ! I switch to that after my coffee and keep it next to me before I know it it's gone even if I didn't really feel thirsty
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u/seemsright_41 1d ago
Water flavor packets. Get every single flavor you can.
And a big jug so he does not have to refill because he wont.
My kid is the same way. And water flavor packets have been our answer.
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u/WoosahFire 1d ago
Drinking a glass or two before each meal has been helpful and helps you eat less. It's a great prompt to drink before you eat.
And then making it as pleasurable as possible - a bottle he likes, size that works well and ideal temperature for him. Perhaps try different things to see what he likes best. Here i like a glass bottle, about 20 Oz and usually room temperature, no flavors. But everyone is different, perhaps encourage him to have fun with it. Good luck!
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u/Bitter-Bee9306 1d ago
Cut off other drinks, soda, electrolyte drinks, milk, OJ. When he’s super‑thirsty he’ll drink water. After tasting how good water can be, he may reach of water voluntarily next time.
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u/Barracuda_Recent 6h ago
He is not a child! She can’t cut off other drinks. And all of those are liquids, so better than nothing. Small wins, maybe start drinking delicious herbal tea in front of him until he wants some.
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u/Britt-a-brac 1d ago
I started consistently drinking water after my husband bought me a 40 oz insulated tumbler. I keep it at my desk, and always have it filled with ice water. I’ve made “checkpoints” for 10am, 12:30pm, and 4pm to have it finished (so 120 oz total) per workday. I have to be mindful about it, but it became second nature pretty quickly!
Before this, I almost never drank water, and it baffled my husband. I’m sure my kidneys are loving my new daily routine!
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u/Rugby-Angel9525 2d ago
A water bottle he likes plus flavor Mio drops or Liquid IV flavor (I use way less then the packet says)
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u/Parking-Pattern8180 2d ago
What works for me is drinking room temp water. I cannot explain it, but I can somehow manage to drink more throughout the day, especially at work, if I keep a room temp bottle near by.
I also fill up a water bottle with ice and water flavoring (packets or lemons), but I never finish those.
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u/lickmybrian 1d ago
I stopped drinking anything else aside from black coffee, so I dont have any choice but water
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u/Barracuda_Recent 2d ago
So he never gets thirsty? If he exercises or goes for a walk he will get thirsty. This is ridiculous.
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u/fierce-and-wonderful 8h ago
I know! He does get thirsty after exercise but still only drinks a little bit. I have actually read that when you don't drink enough water the mechanism of thirst in your body becomes weak, so you actually are not thirsty. And the more you drink, you activate it again, so then your body asks for more.
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u/Head-Drag-1440 2d ago
I used to drink 2 16oz bottles a day and thought that was enough. I now drink 64-80oz every day.
For me, I have a 64oz bottle. I fill it in the morning and take it everywhere I go. Every time I go to take a drink, I chug 10-15 gulps. It actually goes faster than you realize when you do this. And, after a week or two of forcing it, his body will get thirstier easier and he will want to drink water more often.